Ready for a tote that looks fancy but crochets up without the drama? This Lavender Fields Granny Tote Bag delivers those dreamy purple gradients everyone notices. You work classic granny clusters into soft horizontal stripes that shift from deep violet to pale blush. Grab your hook—this one is pure weekend joy.
Why This Granny Tote Steals the Show
Picture a bag that holds its shape yet feels light enough for market runs or beach days. The Lavender Fields design starts deep at the base and fades upward like a real lavender field at dusk. One white tassel with a tiny crocheted bead finishes it off with just the right charm.
You build a firm rectangular base first. Then you pick up stitches and switch to rounds of granny clusters. Handles come next, nice and sturdy. The whole thing measures about 14.5 inches wide, 13 inches tall, and 4 inches deep. Handle drop sits around 10 inches—perfect for shoulder or arm carry.
IMO, this is the project that makes people ask, “Where did you buy that?” You just smile and say you made it.
Skill Level and Time You’ll Need
Call this intermediate. You should feel okay working joined rounds, changing colors, and counting stitches through repeats. The stitches themselves stay simple. The real work sits in tracking the color sequence and keeping tension even.
Determined beginners can still nail it. Read the whole pattern once before you start. Take your time on the first few rounds. You’ll get the rhythm fast.
Plan on 12 to 18 hours total. That covers the base, body, handles, tassel, and finishing. Some folks finish over one dedicated weekend. Others spread it across a week of evening sessions. Either way works.
Materials You Grab First
Reach for worsted weight yarn—category 4. Cotton or a cotton blend gives the bag real structure so it won’t slouch. You’ll need roughly 800 to 900 yards total across five purple shades plus a bit of white.
Color A (Deep Violet): 200 yards
Color B (Medium Purple): 150 yards
Color C (Mauve or dusty rose-purple): 150 yards
Color D (Soft Lilac): 150 yards
Color E (Pale Blush, the lightest): 150 yards
White or cream for the tassel: 30 yards
Hook: US Size J / 6.0 mm.
Extras: tapestry needle, scissors, four stitch markers. Optional but smart: thin fabric lining, a rigid base insert about 14 by 4 inches (plastic canvas or heavy cardboard works), a little polyfill or yarn scraps for the tassel bead, and a small wooden or metal “Handmade with Love” label if you like that touch.
Good yarn picks include Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in violet-to-blush shades. Paintbox Simply DK held double also works well. WeCrochet Comfy Worsted brings a soft stretch. Stick with cotton for the best shape.
Gauge Check—Don’t Skip This
For the granny stripe (double crochet clusters in multiples of 3): one cluster group (3 dc plus chain-1 space) measures about 1 inch wide. Six rows of the pattern hit roughly 4 inches tall.
For the single crochet base: 14 sc by 16 rows equals a 4-inch square.
Make a swatch. Adjust your hook if needed. Gauge keeps the finished size right.
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
Here are the short forms you’ll see:
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
ch-sp – chain space
st(s) – stitch(es)
rep – repeat
sk – skip
pm – place marker
rm – remove marker
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
RND – round
sp – space
yo – yarn over
approx – approximately
beg – beginning
cont – continue
rem – remaining
Granny Cluster (GC)
This is the hero stitch. Three double crochets worked into the same space and joined at the top.
- Yarn over, insert hook into the space or stitch.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops left).
- Yarn over, insert into the same space again.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop (4 loops).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops left).
- Yarn over, insert one more time into the same space.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop (5 loops).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops (4 loops left).
- Yarn over, pull through all 4 remaining loops.
That’s one neat granny cluster.
Crocheted Tassel Bead
Work this in the round with Color A or B (or mix for a stripe).
Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6 sc)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Round 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (18 sc)
Rounds 4–6: Sc in each st around. (18 sc)
Round 7: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 6 times. (12 sc)
Stuff lightly with polyfill or yarn scraps.
Round 8: [Sc2tog] 6 times. (6 sc)
Fasten off, leave a long tail for closing and attaching.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
Section 1: The Firm Base
This creates a solid rectangle about 14.5 inches long by 4 inches wide.
With Color A and 6.0 mm hook, chain 53.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (52 sc)
Rows 2–16: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in each st across. Turn. (52 sc)
Do not fasten off. Your base should measure roughly 14.5 by 4 inches.
Section 2: Transition to Rounds
Keep Color A attached at the end of Row 16. Do not turn. Work around all four edges.
Setup Round:
Work along the long top edge: Ch 1, sc evenly across the top into each of the 52 row-edge stitches. (52 sc)
At the corner, work 3 sc into the corner stitch. Place a marker in the center sc.
Work 16 sc evenly down the short right side (one per row end). (16 sc)
At the corner, work 3 sc. Marker in center sc.
Work 52 sc along the bottom long edge into the unused loops of the foundation chain. (52 sc)
At the corner, work 3 sc. Marker in center sc.
Work 16 sc evenly up the short left side. (16 sc)
At the corner, work 3 sc. Marker in center sc.
Sl st to join to first sc. (Total 148 sc)
Section 3: Granny Stripe Setup Round
This turns the single crochet border into the chain-space grid for the clusters.
With Color A, join to any corner marker stitch.
Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 2 more dc in same corner st to finish the first corner cluster. Ch 1.
Along the long side: [Sk 2 sts, GC in next st, ch 1] 17 times. (17 clusters)
At next corner: GC in corner st, ch 1.
Along the short side: [Sk 2 sts, GC in next st, ch 1] 5 times. (5 clusters)
At next corner: GC in corner st, ch 1.
Along the next long side: [Sk 2 sts, GC in next st, ch 1] 17 times.
At next corner: GC in corner st, ch 1.
Along the last short side: [Sk 2 sts, GC in next st, ch 1] 5 times.
Sl st to join to top of first ch-3 cluster. (48 cluster-spaces total)
Remove the corner markers.
Section 4: Body Granny Stripe Rounds
Every round follows the same path: Ch 3 (counts as first dc of first cluster). Work 2 dc in same ch-1 space to finish the first GC. Ch 1. [GC in next ch-1 sp, ch 1] around. Sl st to join to top of beginning ch-3.
All rounds keep 48 cluster-spaces.
Color sequence:
Rounds 1–3: Color A (Deep Violet)
Rounds 4–5: Color B (Medium Purple)
Round 6: Color A
Round 7: Color B
Rounds 8–9: Color C (Mauve)
Round 10: Color B
Round 11: Color C
Rounds 12–13: Color D (Soft Lilac)
Round 14: Color C
Round 15: Color D
Rounds 16–17: Color E (Pale Blush)
Round 18: Color D
Rounds 19–22: Color E
Round 1 (Color A): Ch 3, 2 dc in same ch-1 sp, ch 1, [GC in next ch-1 sp, ch 1] 47 times, sl st to join. (48 cluster-spaces)
Keep following the sequence. When you change colors, fasten off the old one at the end of the round and join the new one. After Round 22, do not fasten off. Move straight to the top edging.
Section 5: Clean Top Edging
Edging Round 1: Ch 1, sc in the top of each dc and into each ch-1 sp around. Sl st to join. (192 sc)
Edging Rounds 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each sc around. Sl st to join. (192 sc)
Fasten off and weave in the end.
Section 6: Handles (Make 2)
With Color A, chain 5.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (4 sc)
Rows 2–85: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (4 sc)
Fold the strip in half lengthwise. With matching yarn, slip stitch along the open long edge to close it into a tube. Fasten off. Repeat for the second handle.
Section 7: Attaching the Handles
Place the handles on the front and back, centered on the long sides. Pin each so the two ends sit about 4 inches from the panel center and 2 inches inward from the side seam. Ends should overlap the top edging by 1 inch on the inside.
With a tapestry needle and matching yarn, sew each handle end firmly to the inside of the top edging. Use a square stitch pattern and reinforce with an X through the center for strength.
Section 8: The Finishing Tassel
Step 1: Make the Crocheted Tassel Bead. Use Color B for most of it and one round of Color D in the middle for a stripe.
Step 2: Cut 30 to 40 strands of white or cream yarn, each 12 inches long.
Step 3: Hold the strands together, fold in half. Thread the folded loop through the bottom opening of the bead. Pull snug so the bead sits on top.
Step 4: Cut an 18-inch strand of Color D. Wrap it tightly around the tassel about 1.5 inches below the bead. Knot firmly.
Step 5: Trim the ends evenly to about 5 inches below the bead.
Step 6: Attach the tassel to the base of the front left handle. Wrap around the handle and knot on the inside.
Optional: Sew a small decorative label to the lower front, just above the bottom edge.
Finishing Touches and Care
Weave in every end securely with your tapestry needle. For cotton yarn, wet block: dunk the bag in cool water, press out excess moisture in a towel, and shape it over a box that matches your target size. Let it dry fully.
Drop in the optional rigid base if you want extra structure. Hand-sew a fabric lining to the inside top edge if you prefer that polished look.
Care is easy. Machine wash cotton on gentle in cold water. Lay flat to dry and reshape while damp. Skip the dryer. Hand wash if you added a lining.
Related Articles:
- Lavender Ruffle Baby Playsuit Free Crochet Pattern
- Earthy Boho Granny Square Bag Free Crochet Pattern
- Sunflower Granny Square Cardigan Set Free Crochet Pattern
You’re Done—Time to Show It Off
You just made a tote that looks boutique-ready yet feels completely handmade. The soft purple gradient, the sturdy handles, that little white tassel—it all comes together into something you’ll reach for constantly. Carry it to the market, the library, or just around town. People will notice.
If you want more patterns like this, keep an eye on Sumara Patterns. Happy stitching, and enjoy every stitch of your new favorite bag!
